.As marketers dispute NNPC’s claim of product sufficiency
The Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday, gave the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and fuel marketers 48 hours to end the current fuel scarcity across the country, or risk the wrath of the agency.
Spokesperson for the Service, Peter Afunanya, issued the warning while addressing journalists at the DSS headquarters in Abuja, after a closed-door meeting with stakeholders in the petroleum sector
He said the lingering scarcity is creating additional security threats, warning that failure to resolve the issue within the stipulated time would compel the Service to commence operations to bring defaulters to book.
Afunanya said all DSS commands have been placed on red alert for such operations, saying: “We were clear and told them enough is enough on the lingering fuel scarcity. We told them they should resolve the hurdles right away.
“Nigerians have rights to have access to petroleum products. We told them we would not continue to tolerate the scarcity.
“You might be wondering what our business is on this issue. Don’t forget the Constitution charged us with the mandate of detecting and preventing any threat against our internal security.
“We are also empowered to investigate economic sabotage of concern to national security.”
Threats to security
Afunanya said the DSS summoned the meeting and subsequently issued the ultimatum based on its mandate of detecting and preventing threats against Nigeria’s internal security.
He said, “Today, we held a meeting with NNPLC and other stakeholders in the downstream sector which include: the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority; Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers; Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria; Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria; depot operators among others.
“The NNPCL said there are 1.9 billion barrels of petroleum in stock and all the stakeholders agreed to that.
“Among the resolutions reached at the end of the meeting is that the marketers will be operating for 24 hours on a daily basis.
“Also, tanker operators assured that all hands will be on deck to ensure the lifting of the products.
“Similarly, the NNPCL agreed to sell at ex-depot price. It also agreed to decentralise distributions to impact positively on marketers.
“On our part, we agreed to provide security for seamless distribution of the products across the country. Distribution must improve and all challenges must be eliminated in the next 48 hours after which as a matter of urgency we will carry out operations across the country not minding whose ox is gored.
“We sounded a clear note of warning to marketers and other stakeholders and persons involved in the process that it won’t be business as usual and that whatever needs to be done must be done.
“Our commands have been placed on red alert and they would procure information on any obstructive tendency by any organisation against the agreed terms.”
He also warned individuals or groups planning to indulge in criminal activities as a result of the scarcity to desist from such, as the DSS will no longer condone it.
We were clear and told them enough is enough on the lingering fuel scarcity. We told them they should resolve the hurdles right away. Nigerians have rights to have access to petroleum products. We told them we would not continue to tolerate the scarcity.
Sufficient fuel
Afunanya therefore assured Nigerians that with the steps taken, there won’t be acute scarcity during the Yuletide season, as the stakeholders agreed to end the scarcity.
“The major takeaway from our deliberation is that there is sufficient fuel that would last us throughout the Yuletide and beyond in the country despite all other issues raised,” he said.
However, it appears no one believes the NNPC’s claim of availability of sufficient product, not the marketers, even less the Nigerian public.
The former Chairman, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, (MOMAN), Tunji Oyebanji, disclosed yesterday that the NNPC was yet to take delivery of refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol from importers.
Oyebanji, who spoke at the Institute of Change Management lecture in Lagos, faulted the NNPC’s claims that it had fuel in its depots but unable to distribute to marketers across the states due to road construction around the Apapa port.
The Chief Executive Officer of 11 Plc informed that the quantity being claimed by the NNPC can’t be ascertained.
He said: “The issue is that the quantity of fuel available is one thing, the other thing is that where is the fuel?
“If you have fuel but it is on the high sea, and not in the tanks in the depots and petrol stations, then, you have a problem.
“The issue is not the quantity available offshore, but what is really available in everybody’s tank and petrol stations.
“So, we are working hard on the logistics to make it easier and quicker to make products get into our depots and stations, and by extension, they get delivered to the petrol stations. So, it is not about the figures or stock available.”
